107 F3d 19 Wati v. Immigration and Naturalization Service

NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel.

Petitioner Shobna Wati challenges a final order of deportation issued by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). We affirm the BIA's decision upholding the immigration judge's order finding petitioner to be deportable and denying her request for asylum and withholding of deportation. We uphold the BIA's determination unless the evidence compels a contrary conclusion. INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 483-84, 112 S.Ct. 812, 816-17 (1992). It does not do so in this case.

3

Despite the evidence demonstrating that the petitioner was the victim of random acts of violence and crime, we agree with the BIA's decision that petitioner has failed to establish evidence of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. The events detailed by the petitioner, while disturbing, do not amount to persecution. See Prasad v. INS, 47 F.3d at 336, 339-340 (9th Cir.1995) (generalized discrimination, unconnected to the government, does not equal persecution).

4

The petitioner failed to meet either the burden of proof required for asylum or the higher standard required for withholding of deportation. Consequently, we affirm the BIA's decision.

5

Petition for review DENIED.

HAWKINS, Circuit Judge, concurring:

6

This disposition undoubtedly reaches the proper result given the law we must apply to these specific facts. One would hope, however, that no one would read our decision to condone the apparent disregard of native Fijians for the rule of law and the most basic principles of religious freedom.1